Taipei Grand Mosque facts for kids
The Taipei Grand Mosque (Chinese: 台北清真寺; pinyin: Táiběi Qīngzhēnsì) is a special place for Muslims to pray in Taipei, Taiwan. It is the first and largest mosque in Taiwan. The first building for the mosque was built in 1947.
A New Home for Prayer
After Taiwan became part of the Republic of China in 1945, a group called the Chinese Muslim Association (CMA) wanted to build a place for Muslims to pray. In 1947, they started raising money. They built the very first mosque in Taiwan on Lishui Street in Taipei City. Muslims began praying there in August 1948.
After the Chinese Civil War in 1949, many Chinese Muslims moved from Mainland China to Taiwan. They came with the Nationalist government army. The first mosque was not big enough for everyone. So, they needed to find a new place to build a larger mosque.
The idea for the new mosque came from Bai Chongxi, a leader of the CMA, and George Yeh, who was a government minister. The new mosque was finally built on Xinsheng South Street in Taipei. It officially opened on April 13, 1960. The Vice President of the Republic of China, Chen Cheng, was there for the opening.
Mosque Design
The mosque was designed by a famous Taiwanese architect named Yang Cho-cheng. He also designed other well-known buildings in Taiwan. These include the Taipei Grand Hotel and the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. The Taipei City Government recognized the mosque as an important historic landmark on June 29, 1999. This means it is a special building with a lot of history.
What Happens at the Mosque
The Taipei Grand Mosque is home to the Chinese Muslim Association. This is the biggest Islamic group in Taiwan. It also holds the main office for the Chinese Islamic Cultural and Educational Foundation. These groups help to support Muslim life and education in Taiwan.
Images for kids
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Taipei Grand Mosque at night
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Office of the Chinese Muslim Association in Taipei Grand Mosque
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Fast break at Taipei Grand Mosque during the fasting month.
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Taipei Grand Mosque prayer hall
